String Trimmer Sales – Feb. thru April 24
This month, we look closely at the marketplace for line trimmers, both pro and consumer models. This is part of our ongoing analysis of data from Dealer+, the collaborative data program developed by OpenBrand (formerly TraQline) and Ideal Computer Systems. This data comes from point-of-sale records of nearly 2,000 independent OPE dealers nationwide, representing every major brand. Plus, the effort looks at data from mass merchants including Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ace and more. Sales were recorded from February through April 2024.
See our other Dealer+ reporting:
We don’t have volume sales numbers, but we do know that many homeowners and all pro contractors own and use line trimmers; this is a large category in equipment sales and for the replacement line, both factory and aftermarket. From its dedicated trimmer-line manufacturing space in Virginia, Stihl extrudes nearly 200,000 miles worth a year, and that’s just one manufacturer.
Dealer+ Data
(from independent OPE dealers)
Average line trimmer sale price
- Commercial models = $380
- Residential models = $218
- Overall average = $323
Total battery-powered sales
- Commercial models = 3%
- Residential models = 28%
- Total = 12%
The relatively small gap in average pricing between “commercial” models and “residential” models means there is likely a lot of overlap, and a high percentage are “prosumer” buyers who move up and buy a commercial model.
We would have expected a higher percentage of battery powered trimmer sales to residential consumers; battery-powered leaf blowers have a much higher percentage of sales to residential buyers. We are likely to see sales of cordless electric trimmers increase with higher production volumes and marketing, while prices moderate slightly downward.
Note: “Residential” – products marketed primarily to consumers. “Commercial” – products marketed primarily to professional users.
Top-selling commercial trimmer
- Stihl FS 91 – Introduced in 2016, the Stihl FS 91 comes with either the bicycle-type or the oval-shaped handle (the R model, which is $30 less). Stihl touts this as a low-priced pro-level trimmer that has owner-friendly features for fleet managers. With this top-seller being nearly 10 years old, it seems the pro buyers prefer lower pricing over new battery power. It also tops the overall sales list. The 2nd and 3rd best commercial sellers are also Stihl models introduced in 2016.
Top-selling residential-model trimmer
- Stihl FS 56 – An even older Stihl trimmer, the FS 56 is the top-selling consumer model, and it’s the 2nd best seller overall. Stihl debuted this model in 2009. A battery-powered trimmer, the Stihl FSA 57 model is next in line for residential sales. Both of these are priced at about $230.
Line Trimmer analysis, opportunity and obstacles
Buy a decent line trimmer, whether pro or residential model, and it will last a long time with just a little bit of maintenance. Effective use may be more about buying the right trimmer line and knowing how to quickly reload the spool.
The sales opportunity here seems to be in replacement line and spools. But also in battery-powered trimmers that are so much easier to use. Most weed whacking and even trimming of small brush is a job that does not require the high power or long run time of a gas-powered model.
Top battery-powered trimmer
We already mentioned the overall top-selling battery-powered trimmer is the Stihl FSA 57, priced at $230 or lower, depending on the battery. And the 2nd best seller under battery power is the pro-level Stihl FSA 135 which retails for $1,060 with a battery and charger. Even for the tool only, buyers spend $500; that’s $100 more than the top-selling pro trimmer. That gets affordable only if you’re a pro user with lots of other compatible batteries.
Big-Box store top-selling line trimmers
The Echo SRM-225 line trimmer leads the sales chart from the big-box store data. The $230 tool is gas-powered. Next in line for sales success from these mass merchants are two battery-powered trimmers, a $160 Ryobi and a $100 Craftsman. While Home Depot and Lowe’s are both working to increase pro-level sales, these giants are also publicly pitching sustainability goals of selling less products with internal combustion engines. Look for that gas-powered Echo to be replaced at the top of this list by an e-model soon.
